Mike McCombs is the sports editor at the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. He is on his second tour of duty in the Lowcountry. | From a USC Beaufort athletics media release:
Emily Mentrup scored in the 78th minute off an assist from fellow freshman Pascale Rocca, and sophomore Chelsie Mummert notched a shutout to lead the USC Beaufort women's soccer team to a 1-0 road win over NCAA Division II Converse College on Saturday in Spartanburg.
The Sand Sharks (1-2) scored when Jessica Tooley played a ball to Rocca at the top of the penalty box. Rocca made a pass to Mentrup, who lofted a shot over the goalkeeper to the far post for USCB's first goal of the season.
"Emily's goal was a beautiful goal and couldn't have come at a better time," coach Ed Heberling said. "It was the boost we needed to finish out the remainder of the game."
Mummert made six saves for her first career shutout and the second in the program's brief history.
The Sand Sharks have matched their win total from their inaugural season. Their lone victory last season came against Warren Wilson College, USCB's next opponent at 3 p.m. Monday in Asheville, N.C.
USCB needed 13 games to achieve its first win last season, so getting the first one out of the way in only the third game was a big boost.
"It feels so good to get a win this early in the year," Heberling said. "The girls have worked hard for the last month and it is great for them to get this validation."